A CBS News investigation shows how China secretly purchases oil from Iran, in violation of U.S. sanctions, using what officials call a "dark fleet" of oil tankers. Anna Coren reports.

Tehran

A CBS News investigation has revealed that China is covertly purchasing oil from Iran through a network of tankers known as the 'dark fleet,' in violation of U.S. sanctions. These tankers conduct ship-to-ship transfers in international waters off the coast of Malaysia, making it difficult to track the flow of sanctioned oil.

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting this fleet, as reports indicate that China buys 90 percent of Iran's oil. According to a U.S. Congress report, these operations have generated up to $70 billion for Iran, supporting its regime and nuclear weapons program.

Rare look at 'dark fleet' secretly transferring Iranian oil to China

Ottawa's CBS News investigation that shows how China secretly purchases oil from Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. As you're about to see, China uses what is called a dark fleet of tankers to transfer oil ship to ship off and off the coast of Malaysia. As Anna Koren reports, the U.S. Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting Iran's dark fleet. Under clear skies at the break of dawn, we set off from Singapore, one of the busiest shipping ports in the world. We're heading to the Real Archipelago, more than 80 nautical miles away in international waters in search of the dark fleet, an armada of tankers carrying oil sanctioned by the U.S. It's there we are hoping to witness firsthand the illegal oil trade between Iran and China. Charlie Brown, ex-U.S. Navy officer, now senior advisor with United Against a Nuclear Iran, has been monitoring the dark fleet for years. Where we are right now, this is dark fleet parking central. He spots one called Tiffany as soon as we enter the area. It's a well-known dark fleet tanker that's always been out here on a regular basis. The tankers, full of oil, sail from the Persian Gulf through the Straits of Malacca to the Real Archipelago. Here they transfer the crude to ships bound for China, which buys 90 percent of Iran's oil. On the horizon, we spot what we've come to find. That's one right here. Straight ahead? Yeah, straight ahead. That one is, too. In fact, there are four ship-to-ship transfers happening just in our line of sight. Both ships have a net or something, a tarp, deployed over the stern covering the name and identification number. It's obvious deceptive practice. Further analysis from tanker trackers reveals the ship on the left is the elusive Stella Oracle, laden with Iranian oil. According to a U.S. Congress report last year, this exchange generated as much as $70 billion for Iran, propping up the regime and its nuclear weapons program. Anna Corrin, CBS News, in the Real Archipelago, off the coast of Malaysia.

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